The West Branch of the Perkiomen Creek in Berks County, above Route 100, is characterized by the PA Fish and Game Commission as a Class A wild trout fishery. Angling experience throughout the headwaters confirms cold clean waters supporting abundant macroinvertebrate populations and a healthy reproducing brown trout fishery. As a major headwater tributary to the Perkiomen Watershed, the stream is a critical source of freshwater for the Green Lane Reservoir operated by Aqua Inc, and a significant water supply to Philadelphia and surrounding communities in the Schuylkill River Basin. In addition, as a Class A fishery, the West Branch draws significant anglers to the area and thus provides an economic benefit to the local community.

In these headwaters, historic agricultural use has caused instability and excessive erosion of stream banks in the creek, contributing to excess sedimentation, a lack of deep pool habitats, and increased nutrient loading in the stream. In addition, loss of riparian buffer due to utility easements and pasturing has reduced shade cover enhancing temperature impacts in the summer.

PVTU has completed numerous projects to improve 1/2 mile of the West granch above Rte 100 on the Longacre Farm. Ultimately, PVTU is working to improve the West Branch further upstream to the current PA Game Land 315 public access (an additional ¾ of a mile upstream) with a goal of a total two-mile corridor of restored stream and public fishing access. 

PVTU notes that these types of projects provide significant benefits to the community through the partnerships developed and maintained, and through the enhanced public awareness of conservation efforts on their local waters.